Potters National Bank
Also known as: Smith Auto Parts and Speed
Why it's listed
Standing at Broadway and Fourth Street in downtown East Liverpool, this 2½-story brick building was constructed in 1882 for Potters National Bank, which had been organized the year before. Its details include a corner entrance with the bank's initials carved in stone, dormers with roof cresting, a bracketed cornice and decorative brick and stonework. Later alterations enclosed the first-floor windows and door openings and changed the second-floor window sash, but the form, openings, cornice, roofline, dormers and cresting remain intact, and the changes are considered reversible. The building matters for two reasons. It was the first home of a bank that remains one of the community's important financial institutions, and it is the only surviving bank building from the late 19th century. It is also a rare local example of late Victorian commercial architecture, since nearly all others were lost to fire or demolition. Its ornate style contrasts with the Neo-Classical banks built in the early 1900s. The building is recorded as vacant and in poor condition.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be significant in commercial history as the original location of Potters National Bank, which remains one of the community's major financial institutions. It is also the only surviving late 19th century bank building and a rare local example of late Victorian commercial architecture. Its decorative detailing and eclectic style distinguish it from the Neo-Classical bank buildings of the early 20th century.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 85003518, listed November 14, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Broadway and Fourth St., East Liverpool |
|---|---|
| County | Columbiana County |
| Listed | November 14, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85003518 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | High Victorian (late Victorian commercial) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant, with exterior condition poor and endangered by neglect; first-floor openings were enclosed and second-floor window sash changed, though the alterations are described as reversible. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | East Liverpool Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.61701, -80.57752 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 85003518.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7235319
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.